If I were ever to open my own shop, it would be an independent bookshop combined with a bakery café, a quiet, cosy space filled with comfy chairs and plush sofas where readers can immediately dive into their new purchases. So when I started listening to The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery, it truly felt as though Jennifer Page had stepped inside my head!

This was such a lighthearted, warm and feel-good listen with lovely, comforting autumn vibes. I adored the bookshop atmosphere, the clever reader nooks Louise creates, the mouthwatering cake descriptions and the sweet, authentic romance. Having Louise come from an editorial background added a brilliant layer to the story: I loved her internal musings on how her own life and romance were unfolding compared to the tropes of the romance novels she used to edit.

While the plot didn't hold huge surprises and the "big reveal" wasn't particularly shocking, it didn't lessen my enjoyment one bit. I was fully invested in Louise's journey and wanted nothing more than for her to succeed. I only wish this bookshop existed in my town!

Caroline McNally-Smith did a fine job with the narration, capturing the tone, the character voices and the cosy Yorkshire setting really well.

This is a fantastic, comforting start to a new series and I look forward to picking up the next book by this author!

My thanks to NetGalley, Jennifer Page and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the gifted listening copy.

This was an absolute charming romance about a woman who left her big city job and opened a bookstore/bakery in her hometown. Delightful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC and exchange for an honest review

What a delightful read! The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery by Jennifer Page was the perfect lighthearted escape. Louise’s journey of starting fresh in her Yorkshire hometown was pure comfort from start to finish, but my absolute favourite part was the setting—the descriptions of the bookshop bakery were completely unique and swoonworthy! It’s warm, easy to read, and leaves you with a smile. A wonderful cosy romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the ALC.

This was a lovely book about Louise figuring out life after having to restart at a later point in life. Going back to her home town and figuring out how to make the family business something that she wanted to run.

I loved the relationship between Louise and Maddie, it’s not something that is touched on much in the books I have read and honestly it was so wholesome! The characters and the way that her and Jack were in a similar boat and figuring it out was amazing, the spice was not too much and placed perfectly!

I was skeptical and the narrator Caroline but in the end her voice was the perfect fit for this book and the way she portrayed the characters was so good. When you can tell the difference in characters that is amazing and she did Male voices so well!

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family as a wholesome read. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury, the author for the opportunity to listen to this audio book.

The Sugar and Spice Bookshop Bakery was such a lovely cosy audiobook. I mean, a bookshop AND a bakery? You really can't go wrong with that! 😂
I really liked Louise and her fresh start in the village. There was something really comforting about watching her build a new life around books and baking, and I loved all the little cosy details. It was just an easy, feel-good story to listen to.
Caroline McNally-Smith was also a great narrator and really suited the story. Her voice made it even more relaxing to listen to

Sugar and Spice and all things nice.
What a delightfully sweet book. I really want to visit that book shop - well described and I could just picture it. The story is well thought out the book flows.
A great listen and I finished it in a day.

One again love a cute bookshop romance. I found this really easy to listen to and finished it pretty fast. I’ve not read/listened to anything by this author before but it was a cozy listen. I loved the main relationship with other Louise and Maddie as well as Louise and Jack. I did find myself forgetting a lot of their ages with Louise being in her 40s.
The narrator was really good, thought her voice was a good fit for the book as a whole.
3.75 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Page and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the Audio ARC.

This cosy story follows Louise leaving her old job due to an unknown mistake and returning to her home town. Once home, her mothers old dream of her taking over the family bakery, making new friends and hiding from the shame of the 'mistake' in her last job has you following as she tries to continue with her life.
Friendships, Romance and the Family you make.

Great connection with the characters and their relationships. Louise and Maddie (Step-Daughter) was so lovingly written.
I loved that the story wasn't led by the romance but felt like a warm comfort in the background as it bloomed.

First time listening to the Narrator Caroline McNally-Smith, her Yorkshire accent was perfect to give this small hometown feel it was perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Page and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the Audio ARC. Publishing Date 8th of October 2026

Louise Dearnley has spent her life editing books where happy-ever-after is guaranteed. But real life doesn’t work that way. And after making a mistake so bad she quit her job, Louise escapes back to her small Yorkshire hometown to put herself back together. But there’s a problem: her mum thinks she’s come back to run the family bakery now that she’s retired. But Louise doesn’t want to run a bakery. She’s always dreamed of running a bookshop. Unfortunately, the locals want her to run the bakery too and can’t get enough of Louise’s ginger cake. Will she find the courage to go after her dream?

When I picked up this book I was in need of cheering up and it certainly did the trick. I mean, books and baked goods; what isn’t there to love? Funny, romantic and uplifting, this moreish read is a bibliophile and cake lover’s dream and feels like curling up by the fire with a good book and your favourite pastry. I’d heard great things about Jennifer Page’s books but this was my first time reading one myself. Now I’m wondering why I waited so long and totally understand why people sing her praises. I loved everything about this book: the writing, the charismatic characters, the dreamy love interest, the Yorkshire setting, the books and the cake. There is nothing not to love. I listened to the audiobook and it was brilliantly narrated by Caroline McNally-Smith.

Louise is a wonderful protagonist. I felt for her as she beat herself up over her big mistake and worried about how to tell her mum she didn’t want to run the bakery without upsetting her. But I was thrilled and cheering her on as she found her confidence, started standing up for herself and chased her dream. The will they/won’t they romance between her and Jack was perfect and I was rooting for them to get together. Louise’s relationship with her mother and her step-daughter were also great to read, and there was an array of fascinating background characters too.

A gorgeous lighthearted read that is perfect for any time of year. I highly recommend this book. Just have some cake handy before you start.

This was a great small town romance and the first book in the Bookshop Bakery series by Jennifer Page.
Parental expectations weigh heavily on both Louise and Jack when they return to their parents home town in a small Yorkshire Village. The pressure is almost too much for Louise as everyone expects her to be the third generation in her family to run the village bakery even though she has other plans for the space.

Despite the problems that Louise and Jack are experiencing, there is the chance for love to bloom.

I listened to the audiobook and it was a relaxing, romantic read. I'm looking forward to reading book two in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook.